Mining machine



July 31, 1934. E w VQDOZ 1,968,107

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 11, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l z m a?cmQ-Z July 31', 19 34. w. VODOZ 1,968,107

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 11, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNETEDSTATES FATE MINING MACHINE Frederick W. Vodoz, Wilmette, Ill., assignorto Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois 7 Application August 11, 1930, Serial No. 474,411 RenewedNovember 22, 1933 17 Claims. (01. 262-28) T FECE This invention relatesto improvements in min- Patent No. 1,891,719, and will not herein bedeing machines and has for its principal object to scribed in detail:excepting as to the parts which provide a new and improved means forefficiently particularly pertain to my invention. The minremoving thecuttings from the path of the cuting machine 3 is only partially shownin the drawter chain, which may be applied either to a ings and includesa depending cutterhead 4 vermachine of the truck mounted type adapted totically adjustablein guides 5 and having a cutter cut an arcuate kerf ator near the mine bottom, bar 6 projecting forwardly therefrom, whichcutor to a machine of the longwall or continuous ter bar has a cutterchain '7 movable thereabout cutter type. in the usual manner.

A companion application, filed herewith, dis- Referring now to severalof the novel features 65 closes a portable hand controlled device parofmy invention, an arcuate cuttings deflector 8 ticularly adapted forremoving cuttings from the depends from the cutter head 4. The arcuatepath of the cutter chain, but in which the device deflector 3 extendsfrom the forward advance is mounted on wheels for movement on theportion ofthe cutter head 4 rearwardly and ground. While the generalprinciple of the dearound said cutter head and opens to the retreat- 70,vice in my present application is similartothat ing side of said cutterhead. Said deflector subof my companion application, the device of mystantially conforms to the path of the cutter present application isdirectly supported on the chain? to deflect the cuttings discharged frommining machine and is movable thereon to evensaid cutter chain from theretreating side of said ly distribute thecuttings on the mine floor andcutter head and is held to said cutter head by to regulate the angle ofthe conveyor with respect means of a bolt 9 and clips 10 secured to saidcutto the cutter chain in order that a maximum ter head. L a ount ofouttingemay be gathered in all P A bracket 11 is fastened to'the cutterhead 4 on tions of the cutter bar with respect to the minthe retreatingside thereof by means of bolts 12 25' ing'machine proper. and extendsupwardly therefrom forming a sup- My invention may be more clearlyunderstood port for the forwardend 01 a cuttings gathering withreference to the accompa y d awi gs and conveying device generallyindicated at-l3. wherein A hook 14 depends fromthe outer end of theFigure 1 is a fragmentary PerspectiVe Vi w O bracket 11 and has a collar15 thereon abutting 301 a mining m h having the device of my inthe topportion of said bracket which abuts a nut vention attached e e o W PartsOf e d 16 threaded on said hook to hold said hookin vice mbo y n my invn i n br k n away and position on the bracket 11 and allow for verticalin section; adjustment of said hook. v

F ure 2 is a fragmentary p p View Of 'The cuttings gathering andconveying device 351a ning machine Showing the device y- 13 includes atrough 1'7 having a spiral conveyor 9 i s my i v n connected thereto andi a d f- 1s rotatable therein. The forward end of the f n p s t s s w ni ur I trough 17 is shaped like a shovel so as to engage Fig 3 is a pplan View Of the device the mine bottom and scoop up cuttings from the bdv s my invention s w t uttin s path of the deflector 8. A strap 19extends across 40 gathering means Supported in an inoperative D 7 thesides of the trough 17 and has an eye piece.20 9 sition on the miningmachine for movement ext din upwardly therefrom which may be, about them hooked on the hook 14 for supporting the forward Fi ure 4 i asectional view taken on line portion of said trough and the cuttingsgathering of Figure and and conveying device 13. A rearward portion 2145, F u e 5 is a fragmentary perspective v ew of of the trough 17 isshaped so as to deflect cuttings the forw d end of the v ytrellghgathered by the spiral conveyor 18 away from the In the em d of yinvention illustrated, cutter chain 7 and opens on the left hand sideofmy invention is shown as applied to a mining ma- Said t chine 3 of thetruck mounted slabbing type which s t m means are provided for d i n th50 is adapted to Cut kerf in the mine Wall at the spiral conveyor 18 inthe troughfl'l, which means mine bottom or at various elevations withrespect herei'ncdmprises an 1 6 -1 t r 23 n cted thereto; The miningmachine herein illustrated t th e ward end of the spiral conveyor 18 byis Simi a to that Shown in a Prior pp n means of a universal coupling 24in a usual man bearing Serial filed y William ner. The motor 23 is fixedto the trough 17 by 55 i McCullough, on December 25, 1926, which is nowmeans of a T iron 25 extending rearwardly 'irom said trough and straps26 which extend around said motor and are fastened to said T iron.Handles 27 and 28 are provided on the motor 23 to form a means forcontrolling the position of the cuttings gathering and conveying device13 with respect to the cutter head 4 and a push button control 29 isprovided in the handle 2'? for controlling operation of said motor in ausual manner.

Means are provided for adjusting the angle of inclination of thecuttings gathering and conveying device 13 with respect to the cutterhead 4 and for supporting the rearward portion of said cuttingsgathering and conveying device on the mining machine which hereincomprises a bracket 30 attached to the mining machine in a usual mannerand having a rod 31 detachably connectible thereto at one end, which rodhas a chain 32 connected to its opposite end. The chain 32 isconnectible with a slotted bracket 33 fixed to the rearward end of themotor 23 and extending upwardly therefrom. The chain 32 is made up of anumber of links so that any of said links may be connected to theslotted bracket 33 forming a means for adjusting the angle of the trough17 with respect to the cutter head 4.

Suitable means are provided 'to hold the spiral conveyor 18 in thetrough 17 when said conveyor is being driven by the motor 23, whichmeans herein comprise retaining strips 35 fixed to each inner side ofthe trough 17 and adapted to abut said spiral conveyor.

The cuttings gathering and conveying device shown in my invention is soarranged that it may be operated from the rearward end thereof or from aposition remote from said rearward end. In order to operate this devicein a position remote from the rearward end thereof, a hooked rod 37 isprovided which may be hooked in one of the links of the chain 32. Thisrod may be of any length to enable the operator of the mining machine tocontrol the movement of the cuttings gathering and conveying device 13or to enable another man to control the movement of said cuttingsgathering device. This makes it possible for the operator of saidcuttings gathering chute to be out of the way of the cutter'barandoperating end of the mining machine where conditions are such that itmight be dangerous to operate the device close to the cutting end of themining machine; as, for instance, where the face is overhanging or topconditions are bad, or cutting conditions are such that the cutter baris liable to jump out of the coal during the cutting operation. When itis desired to move the mining machine 3 about the mine, the cuttingsgathering and conveying device 13 may be hinged forwardly on the cutterhead 4 and held in a forward position with respect to said cutter headby means of the rod 31 which may be connected to a bracket 38 on theopposite side of the mining machine from the bracket 30 as isillustrated in Figure 3.

- During the cutting operation the cuttings gathering and conveyingdevice 13 is moved backwardly and forwardly about the axis of the hook14 to efficiently gather the cuttings discharged from the cutter chain 7in various positions of the cutter bar 6 with respect to the miningmachine and to control the distribution of saidcuttings to preventaccumulation of the cuttings in one large pile and evenly distributethem on .the mine fioor. Said movement of the cuttings gathering andconveying device 13 may be controlled by the handles 27 and 28 on themotor 23 or the rod 37.

It may thus be seen that a simple and efficient power driven handcontrolled means has been provided for gathering the cuttings dischargedfrom a cutter chain; that this means is connectible with a miningmachine and movable with respect thereto so as to gather a maximumamount of cuttings and distribute said cuttings evenly along the minebottom; and that this means is so arranged that it may be supported inan inoperative position along the cutter head and cutter bar and take upa minimum amount of room when the mining machine is being moved fromcutting place to cutting place.

Although I have herein shown and described one embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that the broad idea of a machinemounted conveyor may also be applied to types of mining machines otherthan that specifically disclosed, and that the construction andarrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing fromthe spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construedas limiting myself to the specific form illustrated, excepting as it maybe specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a track mounted mining machine having a dependingcutter head a cutter bar projecting forwardly therefrom having a cutterchain movable thereabout adapted to cut a kerf adjacent the mine bottom,and means wholly supported by said mining machine for clearing thecuttings from the path of said cutter chain comprising a spiral conveyorsupported on said mining machine and attached to said cutter headadjacent the retreating side thereof for pivotal movement with respectthereto about a vertical axis.

2. In' combination with a mining machinega cutter head having a "cutterbar projecting therefrom, a cutter chain movable thereabout adapted tocut a kerf adjacent the mine bottom, conveying means for clearing thecuttings from the;

path of said cutter chain comprising an inclined trough having a themine bottom and having a conveyor therein, means for supportingthe'forward end of said trough on said cutter head for pivotal movementwith respect thereto, and means for adjustably supporting the rearwardend of said trough on said mining machine.

3. In combination with atrack mounted mining machine having a dependingcutter head, a;

cutter bar projecting forwardly therefrom having a cutter ch'ain movablethereabout adapted to cut a kerf adjacent the mine bottom, convey-jingmeans wholly supported by said mining machine for clearing the cuttingsfrom the .path of said cutter chain having a forward end engageable withthe mine bottom adjacent the path of said cutter chain and having aconveyor supporting said trough in an inclined position with respect tosaid mining machine for pivotal movement with respect thereto.

4. In combination with a track mounted mining machine having a dependingcutter head, a

cutter bar projecting forwardly therefrom hav-' ing a cutter chainmovable thereabout adapted to out a kerf adjacent the mine bottom,conveying means wholly supported by said mining machine for clearing thecuttings from the path of said cutter chain comprising bottom adjacentthe path of said cutter chain forward end engageable with comprising aninclined trough therein, and means for an inclined troughhaving aforward end engageable with the mine 2 ing machine to and having aconveyor therein, and means 'for supportingsaid trough in an inclined'position with respectto said-mining machine for pivotal movement withrespect thereto comprising supporting means'supported on said cutterhead and engageabl'e'with the forward end of said trough. 5. Incombination with a track'mounted mining machine having a dependingcutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly therefrom having'a cutterchain movable thereabout adapted to cut" a'lrerf adjacent the minebottom, conveying means for clearing'the cuttings from the path of saidcutter chain comprising an inclined trough having a forward endengageable with the mine'bottom adjacent the path of said cutter chainand having a conveyor therein, and means for-supporting'said trough inan inclined position with'respectto said mining machine for pivotalmovement with respect thereto comprising supporting means supported onsaid cutter head and engageable with the ing means for clearing thecuttings from the path from said mining machine to said conveying ofsaid cutter chain comprising an inclined trough having a forward endengageable with the mine bottom adjacent the path of said cutter chainand having a spiral conveyor therein, and means for supporting saidtrough in an inclined position with respect to said mining machine forpivotal movement with respect thereto comprising supporting meanssupported on said cutter head and engageable with the forward end ofsaid trough, and connecting means extending from said minsaid conveyingmeans rearwardly of said trough and having adjustable connection withsaid conveying means for varying the angle of inclination of said troughwith respect to said mining machine.

7. In combination with a track mounted mining machine adapted to cut akerf adjacent the mine bottom having a chain carrying projecting cutterbar, an inclined trough supported on said mining machine adjacent theretreating side of said cut- I. ter bar for pivotal movement withrespect thereto and having a receiving end disposed adjacent the minebottom, means cooperating with the cutter chain on said cutter bar fordeflecting the cuttings into the receiving end of said trough, and aspiral trough for discharging the cuttings thereirom beyond said miningmachine.

8. In combination with a track mounted mining machine having 9.depending cutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly of said cutterhead having a cutter chain movable thereabout, a trough supported onsaid cutter head adjacent the retreating side thereof and having areceiving end disposed adjacent the mine bottom, means cooperating withsaid cutter chain for deflecting the cuttings into the receiving end ofsaid trough, and a spiral conveyor in said trough for discharging thecuttings therefrom beyond said cutter head.

9. In combination with a track mounted mining machine having a dependingcutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly of said cutter headhaving a cutter chain movable thereabout, an inclined trough supportedon said cutter head adjacent the retreating side thereof for pivotalmovement with respect thereto and having a reforward' end oisaid trough,and connecting means extending 'ing cutter bar having a ceiving'enddisposed adjacentthe mine bottom,v means'cooperating with said cutterchain forv deflecting the cuttings into the receiving end of saidtrough, and a spiral conveyor in said trough for discharging thecuttings therefromibeyond. said cutterhead.

10. In combination with a track mounted mining machine having adepending cutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly of said cutterhead having a cutter chain movable thereabout, an inclinedtroughsupported adjacent its forward end on said cutter head adjacentthe retreating side thereof for pivotal movement with respect theretoand hav'nga receiving end disposed adjacent the mine bottom, said-troughbeing supported adjacent its rearward end by pivotally movablesupporting means connected with said'mining machine, means cooperatingwith said cutter chain for deflecting the cuttings into the receiv ingend of said trough and a spral conveyor'in said trough for dischargingthe cuttings therefrom beyond said cutter head.

11. In combination with a track mounted mining machine havin a dependingcutter head, a cutter bar projecting forwardly ofsaid cutter head havinga cutter chain movable thereabout;

inclined trou h supported adjacent its 1 an forward end on said cutterhead adjacent the retreating side thereof for pivotal movement withrespect thereto and having a receiving end disposed adjacent the minebottom, said trough being supported adjacent its rearward end bypivotally movable supporting means connected with said mining machine,means cooperating with said cutter chain for deflecting the cuttingsinto the receiving end of said trough, a conveyor in said trough fordischarging the cuttings therefrom beyond said cutter head, and meansconnectible with said trough for pivotally moving said trou h withrespect to said cutter head and controlling the point of discharge ofsaid cuttings from a point remote from said cutter head.

12. In a mining machine adapted to be mounted on and cut from the track,a forwardly projectcutter chain movable thereabout for cutting ahorizontal kerf in the mine wall, and means wholly supported by saidmining machine for clearing'the cuttings from the path of said cutterchain comprisin a spiral conveyor supported on said mining machine andattached thereto adjacent the rearward retreating side of said. cutterchain for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis.

13. In a mining machine, a horizontally disposed cutter bar having acutter chain movable thereabout adapted to cut a horizontal kerf in themine wall, conveying means for clearing the cuttings from the path ofsaid cutter chain comprising an inclined trough having a conveyortherein, said trough having a lower receiving end in alinement with therearward retreating side of said cutter bar, said inclined trough beingadjustably supported on said mining machine for pivotal movement withrespect to said cutter bar about a vertical axis disposed adjacent thelower end of said trough and about an axis inclined with respect theretofor varying the angle of inclination of said trough and being adjustablysupported adjacent its upper end on said mining machine.

14. In a track mounted mining machine, a truck, a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, a cutter chain movable about said cutter bar for cutting ahorizontal kerf in the mine wall, an inclined trough supported on saidmining machine adjacent the retreating side of said cutter bar forpivotal movement with respect thereto and having a receiving enddisposed adjacent the mine bottom, means cooperating with said cutterchain for deflecting the cuttings into the receiving end of said trough,and a spiral conveyor in said trough for discharging the cuttingstherefrom beyond said mining machine.

15. In a mining machine, the combination of horizontal cutting mechanismincluding a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout and acuttings collecting and distributing device associated with said cutterbar including a trough wholly supported by said mining machine andhaving a receiving end disposed adjacent the rearward retreating side ofsaid cutter bar, means cooperating with said cutter chain for deflectingthe cuttings into the receiving end of said trough, and a spiralconveyor in said trough for discharging thecuttings therefrom beyondsaid cutter bar. K

16. In a mining machine, the combination of horizontal cutting mechanismincluding a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout and acuttings collecting and distributing device associated with said cutterbar including a trough wholly supported by said mining machine forpivotal movement with respect thereto in both horizontal and verticalplanes and having a receiving end disposed adjacent the rearward re-'treating side of said cutter bar, means cooperating with said cutterchain for deflecting the cuttings into the receiving end of said trough,and a spiral conveyor in said trough for discharging the cuttingstherefrom beyond said cutter bar.

17. In a mining machine, the combination of horizontal cutting mechanismincluding a cutter bar and a cuttings collecting and distributing deviceassociated with said cutter bar including a trough wholly supported bysaid mining machine for pivotal movement with respect thereto in bothhorizontal and vertical planes and having a receiving end disposedadjacent the rearward retreating side of said cutter bar, meanscooperating with said cutter chain for defiecting the cuttings into thereceiving end of said trough, and a conveyor in said trough fordischarging the cuttings therefrom beyond said cutter bar, and meansconnectible with said trough for pivotally moving said trough withrespect to said cutter head and controlling the point of discharge ofsaid cuttings from a point remote from said cutter head.

FREDERICK W. VODOZ.

